New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-16
SUICIDE or A POLICEMAN.
HE FIRST FATALLY SHOOTS HIS WIFE.

SHE TOOK MONEY FROM gIs PocKETs-CULMINA-
TIoN or 4 LoNG-srANDING QUARREL
Charles Z. Burch, policeman attached to the
Fourth Precinct Jersey City, ehot his siie yesterday
and then killed himtef at his hcme, No. 10 water
ave-, Jersey City Heigh
Burch reported "a sick Mt the police station on iues
day morning and excused. Instead OF going home
he went n spree" with some companions ana did
not return home until early hour yesterday morn
ing His wife upbraded him aud quarrel followed.
Burch dive ted himself Of his coat and shoes and lay
down on a lour 90. lie unable TO sleep soun ny
hut dozed of occasionally, aud dutng one oil tho
dozes his wife searched his packets and took from
him 81 which she intended to keep that he could
not spend it About 1:l0 p. III. Mrs. Burch, a'ter
putting the dinner the table, went into the front
room and called her husband IL Is supposed that on
getting up he missed his money aud became violently
angry. What actually occurred bet weed the Two
could be ascertapcd, Mrs Bnrch Is UNCONSCIOUS
and unable to make any statement Mrs Clo,e, who
occupies the upper part OF the house. says that she
heard Burch say, with an oath, III fix you now
The next moment pistol shot rang out ana immedi-
atey afterward Mrs Burch ran out OF the room and
tell on tue noor She haf barely time to explain tha
her husband shot her. when MIS- close hearu three
more pistol shots
Detective Pearson. who passing, heard the shots
and ,tened to the house lie fouhd that Mrs Bnrch
had been shot in the right breast aud was bleeding
protusey In answer to the detectives questions. she
said her husband had shot her aud then she lap,ed
into unconsciousness Pearson hastened down stairs
and stumbled over Burchs dead tody. lie had shot
himself three times once in the heart, in the
mouth and once in the right breast. Either OF the
shots would have proved fatal.
Police Captain Mckay took possession OF the
weapon with which the bloody deed was done. IL is
44cabre, set-cocking revolver OF ths British bull
dog pattern. Four OF the five chambers had been
discharged At the hos pital 1t vas found that the
bullet had entered Mrs Burchs right breast and
taking q downward direction. lodged somewn mere In
the abdomen. The physicians feared TO Irobe the
wound In the wOmans frecarous condition., but they
were ot the opinion that she could not live. Lost
night she rail- ed somewhat and there is now slight
hoIe OF her recovery.
fhe causes Leading to tho tragedy are matters OF
surmse. Mrs. Dnrch devoted Catholic, Whine
her husband was firm Protestant Mrs. Burch IN
sisted on having the first child baptized in the Catho
lie church AID her husb md positively forbade II.
Mrs Bufsh eventually carried her point by having the
died Birch had them buried ia the New-York Bay
Cemetery but his wife Lad them seJretly disnterrcd
and buried IN tho Catholic cemetery. Tbs quarrel
that resulted from this was bitter that the couple
separated Tor "A time.
Buroh had the reputation Of being n quiet nohcn-
awe man. but some OF his associates say that he was
addicted TO the OF liquor and that he was undei s
inilue nee nearly all the time. He also constant
sufferer from malaria and 10 is believed, that the dis
ease and the liquor together affected hts brain Mrs
Burch's mother says that Burch has been neglecing
his family tue and that after receiving his
pay last month he gave bis wife only T2I with vhlch
10 pa, the rent and meet the household expenses ior
the month.
Mrs Burch is not aware OF her husbands death and
will not be informed OF IL until she l. considered out oi
danger.